Quick-load merchandising pusher systems and methods for dividing, pushing and/or dispensing one or more retail products

Abstract

Quick-load retail merchandising product pusher systems and methods dispense retail products, wherein the systems and methods have a fixed portion having a front end, a rear end located opposite with respect to the front end of the fixed portion, a top side and a bottom side located opposite with respect to the top side of the fixed portion. Further, the systems and methods have a movable track movably connected to the top side of the fixed portion, wherein the movable track has a front end, a rear end located opposite with respect to the front end of the movable track, a top side and a bottom side located opposite with respect to the top side of the movable track. Still further, the systems and methods have a pusher paddle configured to move one or more retail product forward away from the rear side of the movable track and front retainer teeth connecting the fixed portion and the movable track, wherein the front retainer teeth are provided on the top side and at the front end of the fixed portion and extend outwardly with respect to the top side of the fixed portion. The movable track is movable to a closed position or to an extended position, wherein, when the movable track is moved to the extended position, forward movement of the pusher paddle is restricted by the front retainer teeth.

We claim: 
     
       1. A quick-load merchandising product pusher system for dispensing retail products, the pusher system comprising:
 a fixed portion having a front end, a rear end located opposite with respect to the front end of the fixed portion, a top side and a bottom side located opposite with respect to the top side of the fixed portion, wherein ramps are provided on the top side of the fixed portion, extend outwardly with respect to the top side of the fixed portion, and are located adjacent to the front end of the fixed portion; 
 a movable track movably connected to the top side of the fixed portion, wherein the movable track has a front end, a rear end located opposite with respect to the front end of the movable track, a top side and a bottom side located opposite with respect to the top side of the movable track, wherein one or more track stoppers are provided on the bottom side of the movable track, extend outward with respect to the bottom side of the movable track and are located adjacent to the rear end of the pusher system; 
 loading lock tabs connected to the ramps of the fixed portion, wherein the loading lock tabs extend outwardly away from the top side of the fixed portion; and 
 loading lock ramps provided on the bottom side of the movable track and located between the one or more track stoppers and the front side of the movable track; 
 a pusher paddle connected to the top side of the movable track, wherein the pusher paddle, the front end of the movable track and the top side of the movable track define a first area that is sized or configured to receive one or more retail products, wherein the pusher paddle is configured to move one or more retail product forward away from the rear side of the movable track; and 
 front retainer teeth connecting the fixed portion and the movable track, wherein the front retainer teeth are provided on the top side and at the front end of the fixed portion and extend outwardly with respect to the top side of the fixed portion, 
 wherein the movable track is movable to a closed position or to an extended position, wherein, when the movable track is located in the closed position, the rear end and the one or more track stoppers of the movable track are located adjacent to the rear end of the fixed portion and, when the movable track is located in the extended portion, the rear end and the one or more track stoppers of the movable track are located adjacent to the ramps of the fixed portion and the front retainer teeth abuts a portion of the pusher paddle and restricts forward movement of the pusher paddle as the movable track is moved to the extended position; and wherein the loading locks tabs abut the loading lock ramps when the movable track is positioned in the extended position. 
 
     
     
       2. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the movable track is located in the extended position, the one or more track stoppers of the movable track abut the ramps of the fixed portion and forward movement of the movable track is restricted via the one or more track stoppers of the movable track and the ramps of the fixed portion. 
     
     
       3. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , wherein, when the movable track is located in the extended position, the pusher paddle, the front side of the movable track and the top side of the movable track define a second area that is sized or configured to receive one or more retail products, wherein the second area is larger than the first area. 
     
     
       4. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first mount provided at the rear end of the fixed portion and configured to mount the fixed portion to retail merchandising aisle uprights. 
 
     
     
       5. The pusher system according to  claim 4 , wherein the first mount comprises one or more hooks, one or more pegs, a horizontal flange or a vertical flange. 
     
     
       6. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a front plate connected to the front end of the movable track, wherein, when one or more retail products are positioned within the pusher system, the one or more retail products are located between the front plate and the pusher paddle. 
 
     
     
       7. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 dividers connected to both right and left sides of the movable track, wherein the dividers extend outwardly away from the right and left sides of the movable track and away from the top side of the movable track. 
 
     
     
       8. The pusher system according to  claim 7 , wherein the dividers are wire dividers or molded dividers. 
     
     
       9. The pusher system according to  claim 8 , wherein one or more holes are formed through the molded dividers along a length of the molded dividers. 
     
     
       10. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a modular baffle connected to a bottom side of the fixed portion, wherein the modular baffle extends outwardly away from right and left sides of the fixed portion. 
 
     
     
       11. The pusher system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a retail product position in the first area defined between the pusher paddle and the front and top sides of the movable track. 
 
     
     
       12. A retail merchandising gondola section for dispensing retail products, the gondola section comprising:
 retail merchandising aisle uprights; and 
 the pusher system according to  claim 4  mounted to the aisle uprights via the first mount of the pusher system. 
 
     
     
       13. The gondola section according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a second mount connected to the retail merchandising aisle uprights for connecting the first mount of the pusher system to the retail merchandising aisle uprights, wherein the second mount comprises a retail merchandizing shelf, a retail merchandizing crossbar or a retail merchandising peg board. 
 
     
     
       14. The gondola section according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a fastener for connecting the first mount of the pusher system to the second mount of the gondola section, wherein the fastener is a horizontal lip shelf extrusion or a vertical lip shelf extrusion. 
 
     
     
       15. The gondola section according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 at least one retail product position within pusher system.